A vessel has been arrested in Norway following a breach of the European Waste Shipment Regulation and UN Basel Convention.
The Norwegian vessel, owned by Eide Group, was found to be illegally exporting hazardous waste and carrying out a break-up voyage from Norway to Pakistan. It provided a false repair contract to the Norwegian authorities that indicated it was going to Oman for repair instead.
The vessel was not permitted to leave Norway unless sailing to a ship recycling destination that is in line with international and European hazardous waste laws. According to the Norwegian Environment Agency, it is the first arrest of a vessel in Norway for the illegal export of hazardous waste.
After leaving Norway, the vessel experienced engine failure, which led to a rescue operation by the Norwegian coastguard. This was extremely difficult due to weather conditions and hazardous sludge and fuel oil waste that the ship was carrying. The salvage operation resulted in emergency evacuation of five crew members, one of whom broke their shoulder during the evacuation.
Following intervention by the Environment Agency and the Police, evidence showed the ship was undergoing a break-up voyage from Norway to Gadani, Pakistan.
The ship underwent a name change from the Tide Carrier to the Harrier and changed flag from Comoros to Palau, initially indicating that its voyage for repair may be false.
When Eide Group was contacted in summer 2015 by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform to make them aware of the rules regarding end-of-life ships and exports, the owner denied the ship would be scrapped.
Fake repair contracts are provided to authorities sometimes as a way for cash buyers to avoid environmental protection laws. Norwegian City of Tokoyo left the port of Antwerp, reportedly to carry out repair work in Dubai, but it was found to have sailed directly to a beaching yard in Bangladesh.
Ingvild Jenssen, Director at the NGO Shipbreaking Platform said: “The cash buyers of Tide Carrier will not only have to pay back the Norwegian authorities for the rescue operation, but will also have to answer for the fake repair documents which were used to let it sail in the first place. Norwegian owner Eide will have to be held responsible for having sold to a cash buyer as this clearly indicates their complicity in the attempt to illegally export the ship and the potentially toxic excess sludges and fuels found on board.”
Fathom-News
editor@fathom-mi.com
